The Jazz Nebula society presents A Tribute to Horace Silver, Saturday, March 14, 2026, 2:00 p.m. at Scarboro United Church, 134 Scarboro Ave SW, featuring: Johnny Summers, trumpet; John Reid, saxophones and flute; Jon Day, grand piano; John Gray, string bass; Ed Batley, drums. Tickets are $40 general admission, $35 for Jazz Nebula and CALL members, $10 students, and are available at Eventbrite.ca.

There will be a pre-show chat presentation on Horace Silver at 1:30 p.m. given by Jazz Nebula Artistic and General Director, John Reid.

Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver (September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, particularly in the Hard Bop style that he helped pioneer in the 1950s.

Silver got his break on when his trio was recruited by Stan Getz in 1950. Silver soon moved to New York City, where he developed a reputation as a composer and for his bluesy playing. It was his work with the Jazz Messengers, co-led by Art Blakey, that brought both his writing and playing most attention.

After leaving Blakey in 1956, Silver formed his own quintet, with what became the standard small group line-up of tenor saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass, and drums. Their public performances and frequent recordings for Blue Note Records increased Silver’s popularity, even through changes of personnel. His most successful album was Song for My Father, made with two iterations of the quintet in 1963 and 1964.

Silver was among the most influential jazz musicians of his lifetime. Grove Music Online describes his legacy as at least fourfold:

• As a pioneer of hard bop;
• As a user of what became the archetypal quintet instrumentation of tenor saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass, and drums;
• As a developer of young musicians who went on to become important players and bandleaders;
• For his skill as a composer and arranger.

His compositions are one of his great legacies and those are what will be celebrated in this concert: 14 of Silver’s songs will be performed including: “Doodlin’,” “Song for My Father,” “The Preacher,” “Nica’s Dream,” “The Hardbop Grandpop,” and “Sister Sadie” among others.

An aspect of Canadian music will be included as well.

His innovative incorporation of gospel and blues sounds into jazz compositions took place while they were also being added to rock ‘n’ roll and R&B pieces. His compositions and arrangements were also designed to make Silver’s typical line-up sound larger than a quintet.

For more information contact: https://www.jazzyyc.com/jazz-events/jazz-nebula-2025/